Rescues from Serpent-bites (1) Balasaheb Mirikar (2)
Bapusaheb Buti (3) Amir Shakkar (4) Hemadpant –
Baba’s Opinion regarding Killing of Serpents
Preliminary
How to meditate on Baba? No one has been able to fathom the
nature or the form of Almighty. Even the Vedas and the thousandtongued
Shesha are not able to describe it fully, the devotees also
cannot know but only look at the form of the Lord, for they know that,
His Feet are their only refuge. They know no other method of attaining
the supreme goal of life, except meditating on the Holy Feet. Hemadpant
suggests an easy way of devotion and meditation as follows :
As the dark fortnight of every month wears out gradually, the
moonlight also wanes in the same degree and on the newmoon day, we
do not see the moon at all. Therefore, when the bright fortnight begins,
people are very anxious to see the moon. On the first day the moon is
not seen and on the second day she emerges as a thin crescent. Then
the people are asked to see the moon through the opening, between the
two branches of a tree; and when they begin to see through this aperture
eagerly, the distant small crescent of the moon comes to their sight.
Following this instance, let us see Baba’s form. Look at Baba’s posture,
how fine it is! He is sitting with His legs folded, the right leg held across
the left knee. The fingers of His left hand are spread on the right foot.
On the toe are spread His two fingers – the index and middle ones. By
this posture Baba seems to say – if you want to see My true form, be
egoless and most humble, and meditate on My toe through the opening
between – index and middle fingers – and then you will be able to see
My Light.
Now let us turn to Baba’s life. Shirdi had become a place of
pilgrimage, on account of Baba’s stay there. People from all quarters
began to flock there and both the rich and the poor, began to be benefitted
in more ways than one. Who can describe Baba’s boundless love and
His wonderful knowledge and His all-pervasiveness? Blessed is he,
who could experience these. Some times Baba observed long silence,
which was in a way, His dissertation on Brahma; at other times, He
was Pure Consciousness – Bliss Incarnate, surrounded by His devotees.
Some times He spoke in parables and at other times, indulged in wit
and humour. At times He was quite calm and at times He seemed
enraged. Some times He gave His teachings in a nut-shell, at other
times, He argued at length. Many a time, He was very direct. In this way
He gave varied instructions to many, according to their requirements.
His life was therefore, inscrutable, beyond the ken of our mind, intellect
and speech. Our longing to see His face, to talk with Him and hear His
Leelas, was never satisfied, still we were overflowing with joy. We can
gauge the showers of rain, capture the wind in a leather bag but who
can measure His Leelas? Now, we deal here with one aspect of them,
viz. how He anticipated or forestalled the calamities of His devotees
and warned them in time.
Balasaheb Mirikar
Balasaheb Mirikar, son of Sardar Kakasaheb Mirikar, was
Mamlatdar of Kopergaon. He was going on tour to Chitali. On the way
he came to Shirdi, to see Sai Baba. When he went to the Masjid and
prostrated himself before Baba, the usual conversation, regarding health
and other matters commenced, when Baba sounded a note of warning,
“Do you know our Dwarakamai?” As Balasaheb did not understand,
he kept quiet Baba continued, “This is our Dwarakamai, where you are
sitting. She wards off all dangers and anxieties of the children, who sit
on her lap. This Masjidmai (its presiding Deity) is very merciful, she is
the merciful mother of the simple devotees, whom she will save in
calamities. Once a person sits on her lap, all his troubles are over. He
who rests in her shade, gets Bliss.” Then Baba gave him Udi and placed
His hand on his head. When Balasaheb was about to depart, He again
said, “Do you know the ‘Lamba Baba’ (long gentleman), viz. serpent?”
And then, closing the left fist He brought it under the right elbow and
moving His left arm like the hood of a serpent, said, “He is so terrible,
but what can he do to the children of Dwarakamai! When the
Dwarakamai (its presiding Deity) protects, what can the serpent do?”
All who were present there, were curious to know the meaning of
all this and its reference to Mirikar, but none had the courage to ask
Baba about this. Then Balasaheb saluted Baba and left the Masjid with
Shama. Baba called Shama back, and asked him to accompany Balasaheb
and enjoy the Chitali trip. Shama came to Balasaheb and told him that
he would go with him, according to Baba’s wish. Balasaheb replied that
he need not come, as it would be inconvenient. Shama returned to Baba
and told Him what Balasaheb said to him. Baba said, “Alright, do not
go. We should mean well and do well. Whatever is destined to happen,
will happen.”
1. According to the Hinduism, the earth rests on the head of the Serpent Sheshnag,
Who has 1000 heads.
In the meanwhile, Balasaheb thought it over again and calling
Shama, asked him to accompany him. Then Shama went again to Baba
and after taking His leave started with Balasaheb in the tonga. They
reached Chitali at 9 P.M. and encamped in the Maruti temple. The
office-people had not come so they sat in the temple, talking and
chitchating. Balasaheb was sitting on a mat, reading a newspaper. His
Uparani (upper Dhotar) was spread across his waist and on it a snake
was sitting unnoticed. It began to move with a hissing sound, which
was heard by the peon. He brougt a lantern, saw the snake and raised
an alarm, “serpent, serpent.” Balasaheb was frightened and began to
quiver. Shama was also stunned. Then, he and others moved quietly
and took sticks and clubs in their hands. The snake slowly came down
the waist and moved away from Balasaheb and it was immediately
done to death. Thus this calamity, which was prophesied by Baba, was
averted and Balasaheb’s devotion in Baba was confirmed.
Bapusaheb Buti
A great astrologer, named Nanasaheb Dengle, told Bapusaheb
Buti, who was then in Shirdi, “Today is an inauspicious day for you,
there is danger to your life.” This made Bapusaheb restless. When they
as usual came to Masjid, Baba said to Bapusaheb, “What does this
Nana say? He foretells death for you. Well, you need not be afraid. Tell
him, “Let us see, how death kills.” Then, later in the evening Bapusaheb
went to his privy, for easing himself, where he saw a snake. His servant
saw it and lifted a stone to strike at it. Bapusaheb asked him to get a
big stick, but before the servant returned with the stick, the snake was
seen moving away and soon disappeared. Bapusaheb remembered
Baba’s words of fearlessness.
Amir Shakkar
Amir Shakkar was a native of the village Korhale, in Kopergaon
Taluka. He belonged to the butcher caste. He worked as a commission
agent in Bandra (Mumbai) and was well-known there. He once suffered
from rheumatism, which gave him much pain. He then remembered
Allah (God), left his business and went to Shirdi and prayed to Baba
to relieve him from his malady. Baba then stationed him in the Chavadi.
The Chavadi was then a damp unhealthy place, unfit for such a patient.
Any other place in the village or Korhale itself would have been better
for Amir, but Baba’s word was the command the chief medicine. Baba
did not allow him to come to the Masjid, but fixed him in the Chavadi
every morning and evening; every alternate day Baba went to the
Chavadi in a procession and slept there, so, Amir got Baba’s contact
very often. Amir stayed there for full nine months and then, he got a
disgust for the place. So one night he stealthily left the place and came
to Kopergaon and stayed in a dharmashala. There he saw an old dying
Fakir, who asked him for water. Amir brought it and gave it to him. As
soon as he drank it, he passed away. Now Amir was in a fix. He
thought that, if he went and informed the authorities, he would be held
responsible for the death, as he was the first and sole informant and
knew something about it. He repented for his action, viz. leaving Shirdi
without Baba’s permission and prayed to Baba. He then determined to
return to Shirdi and same night he retreated, remembering and muttering
Baba’s name all the way and reached Shirdi before day-break, and
became free from anxiety. Then he lived in the Chavadi in perfect
accordance with Baba’s wishes and orders, and got himself cured. One
night it so happened that, Baba cried at midnight. “Oh Abdul, some
devilish creature is dashing against the side of my bed.” Abdul came
with a lantern, examined Baba’s bed but found nothing. Baba asked
him to examine carefully all the place and began to strike the ground
with His Satka. Seeing this Leela of Baba, Amir thought that, Baba
might have suspected some serpent there. Amir could know by close
contact with Baba, the meaning of His words and actions. Baba then
saw near Amir’s cushion, something moving. He asked Abdul to bring
in the light and when he brought it, he saw the serpent coiled up there,
moving its head up and down. Thereupon, the serpent was immediately
beaten to death. Thus, Baba gave timely warning and saved Amir’s life.
Hemadpant (Scorpion and Serpent)
(1) At Baba’s recommendation Kaksaheb Dixit was daily reading
the two works of Shri Eknath Maharaj, viz. Bhagwat and Bhavartha
Ramayan and Hemadpant had the good fortune to be one of the
audience, when the reading of the works was going on. Once, when a
portion from the Ramayan relating to Hanuman’s testing Rama’s
greatness according to his mother’s instructions, was being read, all the
listeners were spell-bound. Hemadpant was one of them. A big scorpion
(none knew, where it came from), jumped and sat on the right shoulder
of Hemadpant, on his Uparani (upper Dhotar). First it was not noticed,
but as the Lord protects those who are intent on hearing His stories, he
casually cast a glance over his right shoulder and noticed it. It was
dead silence not a bit moving here or there. It seemed as if, it also
enjoyed the reading. Then by the Lord’s grace, Hemandpant, without
disturbing the audience, took the two ends of his Dhotar, folded them
and brought them together enclosing the scorpion within. Then he went
out and threw it in the garden. (2) On another occasion, some persons
were sitting in the upper floor of Kakasaheb’s Wada, just before nightfall,
when a serpent crept through a hole in the window-frame and sat
coiled up. A light was brought. Though it was first dazzled, yet it sat
still and moved its head up and down. Then many persons rushed
there with sticks and cudgels, but as it sat in an awkward place, no
blow could be dealt. But hearing the noises of men, the serpent went out
hastily through the same hole. Then all the persons present there felt
relieved.
Baba’s Opinion
One devotee, named Muktaram, then said that it was good that the
poor creature escaped. Hemadpant challenged him, saying that serpents
should better be killed. There was a hot discussion between them – the
former contending that serpents and such creatures, should not be
killed, the latter that they should be. As night came on, the discussion
came to an end without any decision being arrived at. Next day, the
question was referred to Baba, Who gave His settled opinion as follows,
“God lives in all beings and creatures, whether they be serpents or
scorpions. He is the Great Wirepuller of the world, and all beings,
serpents, scorpions etc. obey His command! Unless He wills it nobody
can do any harm to others. The world is all dependent on Him and no
one is independent. So we should take pity and love all creatures, leave
off killings and be patient. The Lord (God) is the Protector of all.
Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all
Bapusaheb Buti (3) Amir Shakkar (4) Hemadpant –
Baba’s Opinion regarding Killing of Serpents
Preliminary
How to meditate on Baba? No one has been able to fathom the
nature or the form of Almighty. Even the Vedas and the thousandtongued
Shesha are not able to describe it fully, the devotees also
cannot know but only look at the form of the Lord, for they know that,
His Feet are their only refuge. They know no other method of attaining
the supreme goal of life, except meditating on the Holy Feet. Hemadpant
suggests an easy way of devotion and meditation as follows :
As the dark fortnight of every month wears out gradually, the
moonlight also wanes in the same degree and on the newmoon day, we
do not see the moon at all. Therefore, when the bright fortnight begins,
people are very anxious to see the moon. On the first day the moon is
not seen and on the second day she emerges as a thin crescent. Then
the people are asked to see the moon through the opening, between the
two branches of a tree; and when they begin to see through this aperture
eagerly, the distant small crescent of the moon comes to their sight.
Following this instance, let us see Baba’s form. Look at Baba’s posture,
how fine it is! He is sitting with His legs folded, the right leg held across
the left knee. The fingers of His left hand are spread on the right foot.
On the toe are spread His two fingers – the index and middle ones. By
this posture Baba seems to say – if you want to see My true form, be
egoless and most humble, and meditate on My toe through the opening
between – index and middle fingers – and then you will be able to see
My Light.
Now let us turn to Baba’s life. Shirdi had become a place of
pilgrimage, on account of Baba’s stay there. People from all quarters
began to flock there and both the rich and the poor, began to be benefitted
in more ways than one. Who can describe Baba’s boundless love and
His wonderful knowledge and His all-pervasiveness? Blessed is he,
who could experience these. Some times Baba observed long silence,
which was in a way, His dissertation on Brahma; at other times, He
was Pure Consciousness – Bliss Incarnate, surrounded by His devotees.
Some times He spoke in parables and at other times, indulged in wit
and humour. At times He was quite calm and at times He seemed
enraged. Some times He gave His teachings in a nut-shell, at other
times, He argued at length. Many a time, He was very direct. In this way
He gave varied instructions to many, according to their requirements.
His life was therefore, inscrutable, beyond the ken of our mind, intellect
and speech. Our longing to see His face, to talk with Him and hear His
Leelas, was never satisfied, still we were overflowing with joy. We can
gauge the showers of rain, capture the wind in a leather bag but who
can measure His Leelas? Now, we deal here with one aspect of them,
viz. how He anticipated or forestalled the calamities of His devotees
and warned them in time.
Balasaheb Mirikar
Balasaheb Mirikar, son of Sardar Kakasaheb Mirikar, was
Mamlatdar of Kopergaon. He was going on tour to Chitali. On the way
he came to Shirdi, to see Sai Baba. When he went to the Masjid and
prostrated himself before Baba, the usual conversation, regarding health
and other matters commenced, when Baba sounded a note of warning,
“Do you know our Dwarakamai?” As Balasaheb did not understand,
he kept quiet Baba continued, “This is our Dwarakamai, where you are
sitting. She wards off all dangers and anxieties of the children, who sit
on her lap. This Masjidmai (its presiding Deity) is very merciful, she is
the merciful mother of the simple devotees, whom she will save in
calamities. Once a person sits on her lap, all his troubles are over. He
who rests in her shade, gets Bliss.” Then Baba gave him Udi and placed
His hand on his head. When Balasaheb was about to depart, He again
said, “Do you know the ‘Lamba Baba’ (long gentleman), viz. serpent?”
And then, closing the left fist He brought it under the right elbow and
moving His left arm like the hood of a serpent, said, “He is so terrible,
but what can he do to the children of Dwarakamai! When the
Dwarakamai (its presiding Deity) protects, what can the serpent do?”
All who were present there, were curious to know the meaning of
all this and its reference to Mirikar, but none had the courage to ask
Baba about this. Then Balasaheb saluted Baba and left the Masjid with
Shama. Baba called Shama back, and asked him to accompany Balasaheb
and enjoy the Chitali trip. Shama came to Balasaheb and told him that
he would go with him, according to Baba’s wish. Balasaheb replied that
he need not come, as it would be inconvenient. Shama returned to Baba
and told Him what Balasaheb said to him. Baba said, “Alright, do not
go. We should mean well and do well. Whatever is destined to happen,
will happen.”
1. According to the Hinduism, the earth rests on the head of the Serpent Sheshnag,
Who has 1000 heads.
In the meanwhile, Balasaheb thought it over again and calling
Shama, asked him to accompany him. Then Shama went again to Baba
and after taking His leave started with Balasaheb in the tonga. They
reached Chitali at 9 P.M. and encamped in the Maruti temple. The
office-people had not come so they sat in the temple, talking and
chitchating. Balasaheb was sitting on a mat, reading a newspaper. His
Uparani (upper Dhotar) was spread across his waist and on it a snake
was sitting unnoticed. It began to move with a hissing sound, which
was heard by the peon. He brougt a lantern, saw the snake and raised
an alarm, “serpent, serpent.” Balasaheb was frightened and began to
quiver. Shama was also stunned. Then, he and others moved quietly
and took sticks and clubs in their hands. The snake slowly came down
the waist and moved away from Balasaheb and it was immediately
done to death. Thus this calamity, which was prophesied by Baba, was
averted and Balasaheb’s devotion in Baba was confirmed.
Bapusaheb Buti
A great astrologer, named Nanasaheb Dengle, told Bapusaheb
Buti, who was then in Shirdi, “Today is an inauspicious day for you,
there is danger to your life.” This made Bapusaheb restless. When they
as usual came to Masjid, Baba said to Bapusaheb, “What does this
Nana say? He foretells death for you. Well, you need not be afraid. Tell
him, “Let us see, how death kills.” Then, later in the evening Bapusaheb
went to his privy, for easing himself, where he saw a snake. His servant
saw it and lifted a stone to strike at it. Bapusaheb asked him to get a
big stick, but before the servant returned with the stick, the snake was
seen moving away and soon disappeared. Bapusaheb remembered
Baba’s words of fearlessness.
Amir Shakkar
Amir Shakkar was a native of the village Korhale, in Kopergaon
Taluka. He belonged to the butcher caste. He worked as a commission
agent in Bandra (Mumbai) and was well-known there. He once suffered
from rheumatism, which gave him much pain. He then remembered
Allah (God), left his business and went to Shirdi and prayed to Baba
to relieve him from his malady. Baba then stationed him in the Chavadi.
The Chavadi was then a damp unhealthy place, unfit for such a patient.
Any other place in the village or Korhale itself would have been better
for Amir, but Baba’s word was the command the chief medicine. Baba
did not allow him to come to the Masjid, but fixed him in the Chavadi
every morning and evening; every alternate day Baba went to the
Chavadi in a procession and slept there, so, Amir got Baba’s contact
very often. Amir stayed there for full nine months and then, he got a
disgust for the place. So one night he stealthily left the place and came
to Kopergaon and stayed in a dharmashala. There he saw an old dying
Fakir, who asked him for water. Amir brought it and gave it to him. As
soon as he drank it, he passed away. Now Amir was in a fix. He
thought that, if he went and informed the authorities, he would be held
responsible for the death, as he was the first and sole informant and
knew something about it. He repented for his action, viz. leaving Shirdi
without Baba’s permission and prayed to Baba. He then determined to
return to Shirdi and same night he retreated, remembering and muttering
Baba’s name all the way and reached Shirdi before day-break, and
became free from anxiety. Then he lived in the Chavadi in perfect
accordance with Baba’s wishes and orders, and got himself cured. One
night it so happened that, Baba cried at midnight. “Oh Abdul, some
devilish creature is dashing against the side of my bed.” Abdul came
with a lantern, examined Baba’s bed but found nothing. Baba asked
him to examine carefully all the place and began to strike the ground
with His Satka. Seeing this Leela of Baba, Amir thought that, Baba
might have suspected some serpent there. Amir could know by close
contact with Baba, the meaning of His words and actions. Baba then
saw near Amir’s cushion, something moving. He asked Abdul to bring
in the light and when he brought it, he saw the serpent coiled up there,
moving its head up and down. Thereupon, the serpent was immediately
beaten to death. Thus, Baba gave timely warning and saved Amir’s life.
Hemadpant (Scorpion and Serpent)
(1) At Baba’s recommendation Kaksaheb Dixit was daily reading
the two works of Shri Eknath Maharaj, viz. Bhagwat and Bhavartha
Ramayan and Hemadpant had the good fortune to be one of the
audience, when the reading of the works was going on. Once, when a
portion from the Ramayan relating to Hanuman’s testing Rama’s
greatness according to his mother’s instructions, was being read, all the
listeners were spell-bound. Hemadpant was one of them. A big scorpion
(none knew, where it came from), jumped and sat on the right shoulder
of Hemadpant, on his Uparani (upper Dhotar). First it was not noticed,
but as the Lord protects those who are intent on hearing His stories, he
casually cast a glance over his right shoulder and noticed it. It was
dead silence not a bit moving here or there. It seemed as if, it also
enjoyed the reading. Then by the Lord’s grace, Hemandpant, without
disturbing the audience, took the two ends of his Dhotar, folded them
and brought them together enclosing the scorpion within. Then he went
out and threw it in the garden. (2) On another occasion, some persons
were sitting in the upper floor of Kakasaheb’s Wada, just before nightfall,
when a serpent crept through a hole in the window-frame and sat
coiled up. A light was brought. Though it was first dazzled, yet it sat
still and moved its head up and down. Then many persons rushed
there with sticks and cudgels, but as it sat in an awkward place, no
blow could be dealt. But hearing the noises of men, the serpent went out
hastily through the same hole. Then all the persons present there felt
relieved.
Baba’s Opinion
One devotee, named Muktaram, then said that it was good that the
poor creature escaped. Hemadpant challenged him, saying that serpents
should better be killed. There was a hot discussion between them – the
former contending that serpents and such creatures, should not be
killed, the latter that they should be. As night came on, the discussion
came to an end without any decision being arrived at. Next day, the
question was referred to Baba, Who gave His settled opinion as follows,
“God lives in all beings and creatures, whether they be serpents or
scorpions. He is the Great Wirepuller of the world, and all beings,
serpents, scorpions etc. obey His command! Unless He wills it nobody
can do any harm to others. The world is all dependent on Him and no
one is independent. So we should take pity and love all creatures, leave
off killings and be patient. The Lord (God) is the Protector of all.
Bow to Shri Sai – Peace be to all
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